401(k) for Solo Business Owners

Contributed by: Matt Trujillo, CFP®

If you're self-employed or own a small business, you've probably considered establishing a retirement plan. If you've done your homework, you likely know about simplified employee pensions (SEPs) and savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLE) IRA plans. These plans typically appeal to small business owners because they're relatively straightforward and inexpensive to administer. What you may not know is that in many cases an individual 401(k) plan (which is also known by other names such as a solo 401(k) plan, an employer-only 401(k) plan, or a single participant 401(k) plan) may offer a better combination of benefits.

What is an individual 401(k) plan?

An individual 401(k) plan is a regular 401(k) plan combined with a profit-sharing plan. Unlike a regular 401(k) plan, however, an individual 401(k) plan can be implemented only by self-employed individuals or small business owners who have no other full-time employees (an exception applies if your full-time employee is your spouse). If you have full-time employees age 21 or older (other than your spouse) or part-time employees who work more than 1,000 hours a year, you will typically have to include them in any plan you set up, so adopting an individual 401(k) plan will not be a viable option.

What makes an individual 401(k) plan attractive?

One feature that makes an individual 401(k) plan an attractive retirement savings vehicle is that in most cases your allowable contribution to an individual 401(k) plan will be as large as or larger than you could make under most other types of retirement plans. With an individual 401(k) plan you can elect to defer up to $18,000 of your compensation to the plan for 2016 (plus catch-up contributions of up to $6,000 if you're age 50 or older), just as you could with any 401(k) plan. In addition, as with a traditional profit-sharing plan, your business can make a maximum tax-deductible contribution to the plan of up to 25% of your compensation (up to $265,000 in 2016).  Since your 401(k) elective deferrals don't count toward the 25% limit, you, as an owner-employee, can defer the maximum amount of compensation under the 401(k) plan, and still contribute up to 25% of total compensation to the profit-sharing plan on your own behalf. Total plan contributions for 2016 cannot, however, exceed the lesser of $53,000 (plus any catch-up contributions) or 100% of your compensation.

For example, Dan is 35 years old and the sole owner of an incorporated business. His compensation in 2016 is $100,000. Dan sets up an individual 401(k) plan for his retirement. Under current tax law, Dan's plan account can accept a tax-deductible business contribution of $25,000 (25% of $100,000), plus a 401(k) elective deferral of $18,000. As a result, total plan contributions on Dan's behalf can reach $43,000, which falls within Dan's contribution limit of $53,000 (the lesser of $53,000 or 100% of his compensation). These contribution possibilities aren't unique to individual 401(k) plans; any business establishing a regular 401(k) plan and a profit-sharing plan could make similar contributions. But individual 401(k) plans are simpler to administer than other types of retirement plans. Since they cover only a self-employed individual or business owner and his or her spouse, individual 401(k) plans aren't subject to the often burdensome and complicated administrative rules and discrimination testing that are generally required for regular 401(k) and profit-sharing plans.

Other Advantages of an Individual 401(k) Plan

Large potential annual contributions and straightforward administrative requirements are appealing, but individual 401(k) plans also have advantages that are shared by many other types of retirement plans:

An individual 401(k) is a tax-deferred retirement plan, so you pay no income tax on plan contributions or earnings (if any) until you withdraw money from the plan. And, your business's contribution to the plan is tax deductible.

• You can, if your plan document permits, designate all or part of your elective deferrals as after-tax Roth 401(k) contributions. While Roth contributions don't provide an immediate tax savings, qualified distributions from your Roth account are entirely free from federal income tax.
• Contributions to an individual 401(k) plan are completely discretionary. You should always try to contribute as much as possible, but you have the option of reducing or even suspending plan contributions if necessary.
• An individual 401(k) plan can allow loans and may allow hardship withdrawals if necessary.
• An individual 401(k) plan can accept rollovers of funds from another retirement savings vehicle, such as an IRA, a SEP plan, or a previous employer's 401(k) plan.

Disadvantages

Despite its attractive features, an individual 401(k) plan is not the right option for everyone. Here are a few potential drawbacks:

• An individual 401(k) plan, like a regular 401(k) plan, must follow certain requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. Although these requirements are much simpler than they would be for a regular 401(k) plan with multiple participants, there is still a cost associated with establishing and administering an individual 401(k) plan.
• Your individual 401(k) plan assets are fully protected from your creditors under federal law if you declare bankruptcy. However, since an individual 401(k) plan generally isn't subject to ERISA, whether your plan's assets will be protected from your creditors outside of bankruptcy will be determined by the laws of your particular state.
• Self-employed individuals and small business owners with significant compensation can already contribute a maximum $53,000 by using a traditional profit-sharing plan or SEP plan. An individual 401(k) plan will not allow contributions to be made above this limit (an exception exists for catch-up contributions that can be made by individuals age 50 or older).

If you think an Individual 401(k) might be the right vehicle for you, we encourage you to contact your financial planner to work through your individual situation to make the right choice for you.  Feel free to reach out to us if you think we can be of help!

Matthew Trujillo, CFP®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Matt currently assists Center planners and clients, and is a contributor to Money Centered.

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This information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Matthew Trujillo and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. Prior to making a retirement plan decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. Roth account owners must be 59½ or older and have held the IRA for five years before tax-free withdrawals are permitted. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

Center Stories: Laurie Renchik, CFP®

Contributed by: Laurie Renchik, CFP®, MBA

Financial planning doesn’t mean planning for the day your health begins to fail. It means asking, “Where do I want to be in three years? Ten years? Twenty years?” Here’s how I help. One of my special interests is working with women who are handling financial assets and want to move forward with their financial lives. We focus on what is important to you. To me, that means being authentically interested in your life story, because financial planning done right is all about you, your plan and your goals. I work with you to put the financial pieces in place so that you can focus on what you do best…living your life!

The below video is an opportunity for you to hear my perspective on finding the right fit in a financial planning relationship. The confidence to know you have a handle on the financial aspects of your vision is why I am inspired to help clients create and manage financial plans to serve as a guide for future success. If you’re interested in working together, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Laurie Renchik, CFP®, MBA is a Partner and Senior Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® In addition to working with women who are in the midst of a transition (career change, receiving an inheritance, losing a life partner, divorce or remarriage), Laurie works with clients who are planning for retirement. Laurie is a member of the Leadership Oakland Alumni Association and is a frequent contributor to Money Centered.

What is a Non-Qualified Stock Option (NSO)?

Contributed by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.

A stock option is a right to buy a specified amount of company shares at a specified price for a certain period of time, as Matt Trujillo, CFP® introduced last month in his blog on ISOs. Unlike ISOs, NSOs (also sometimes referred to as NQSOs) do not receive special federal tax treatment and are more commonly granted by employers. Often preferred by established companies, NSOs granted to an employee will result in ordinary income when exercised and are easier to administer as they do not have to adhere to rules specific to ISOs. Like any stock option, the intent is to give extra incentive to focus participants on increasing the company’s stock price. They are a flexible tool that can allow companies and participants to take advantage of stock price growth at a fairly low cost.

The Basics:

• Initiation date of the contract is known as the grant date. This is not a taxable event.

• Employees must comply with a specific vesting schedule to exercise.

• Exercise date is the date an employee is allowed to take full ownership of the specified lot of shares.

• After the expiration date, the employee no longer has the right to purchase the company stock under the agreement terms.

Taxation:

• In contrast to ISOs, NSOs result in additional taxable income to the recipient at the time of exercise, which is the difference between the exercise price and the market value on the exercise date.

• To determine the amount of tax to be paid, the exercise price is subtracted from the market price on the date the option is exercised. This is called the bargain element which is considered compensation to the employee and is taxed at their ordinary income rate.

• The sale of the security results in another taxable event. If sold less than a year from the exercise date, the transaction is considered as a short-term capital gain and is subject to ordinary income tax rates. If the employee waits a year or more from the exercise date, the transaction is considered a long-term capital gain (LTCG) and taxed at the applicable tax rates (which are much more favorable than ordinary income tax rates).

Planning Opportunities:

Some plans may allow participants to exercise unvested options when they are no longer “subject to a significant risk of forfeiture.” This may be referred to as “early exercise” or “exercise before vest.” This can allow the exerciser of the options to realize ordinary income at a more favorable time when the difference between the exercise price and market value of the stock is low.

Ideally, if you know that you are going to be exercising NSOs that will generate a large amount of ordinary income tax, you can look to lower your income in other ways to reduce your tax burden (ex: maxing out your contribution to your employer’s retirement plan, accelerating charitable contributions, utilizing deferred compensation if available).

Perhaps the most important planning consideration is the effect that stock options will have on your overall asset allocation. It often makes sense to pay the taxes on your stock options to make sure your portfolio is properly diversified.

Hopefully this information is helpful if you are new to NSOs or even if you’ve held them for years but don’t fully understand them. Many employees may not fully understand their stock options. Here at The Center we are always looking at your entire comprehensive financial plan, and stock option strategy is a small but important part of your total financial picture. Consult your financial planner and/or tax specialist to determine the best execution strategy for your stock options.

Any opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Every investor’s situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. Raymond James financial advisors do not render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/optioninvestor/07/esoabout.asp
http://www.payscale.com/compensation-today/2013/01/non-qualified-stock-options-are-much-better-than-they-sound
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Investments-and-Taxes/Non-Qualified-Stock-Options/INF12046.html

Challenge Detroit: A Fellowship Year in Retrospect

Contributed by: Clare Lilek

It’s hard for me to believe that one year ago I was embarking on one of the most enlightening, demanding, and rewarding yearlong experiences I could have imagined. I came to The Center without any prior experience in the financial industry but with a passion for learning and for positively impacting communities. Through Challenge Detroit I was able to reach and discover many different nonprofits and various organizations doing good in and around the city. Through my time as a fellow, I was able to establish, retain, and bring connections made to The Center in order to expand our personal and companywide impact in the community that we work in.

As the year wrapped up, my “fellow” Challenge Detroit fellows and I worked on three more challenges culminating in a total of six challenges completed throughout the year. For more information on the first part of the year, check out my blog: Challenge Detroit—An Update Halfway Through. Here’s what we’ve been up to since I last checked in:

Challenge #4: Downtown Detroit Partnership

Downtown Detroit Partnership is a partnership of corporate, civic, and philanthropic leaders that supports, advocates, and develops programs and initiatives designed to create a clean, safe, and inviting Downtown Detroit. We worked with the DDP to see how the organization could more positively establish a back and forth communication and integration with Detroit’s neighborhoods outside of the downtown area.

Challenge #5: Detroit Future City and Black Family Development

Detroit Future City are the gatekeepers to the Strategic Framework, a highly detailed long term guide for decision-making, that is meant for all of the stakeholders in the City in order to guide land use and space development. Challenge Detroit was tasked with using their Open Lot Field Guide to take a vacant lot in the Osborn neighborhood and create an open, safe, and beautiful space for the neighbors, while simultaneously working with Black Family Development, a nonprofit in the Osborn neighborhood, on neighborhood specific tasks that involve land development.

Challenge #6: Recovery Park

Recovery Park, centered in the historic Pole Town region of Detroit, aims at developing land, creating job opportunities, and revitalizing a once highly populated area through urban farming. We were tasked with aiding in the redevelopment of this neighborhood through transportation access, small business development, and land beautification.

The past few months of Challenge Detroit went insanely fast. It feels like 2016 was just starting and more than three quarters of the experiences and opportunities that the fellowship brings still lied fatefully ahead. Now, as the year comes to an end and Challenge Detroit prepares to welcome the Year 5 fellows, I can’t help but reflect on the challenges, rewards, and unforgettable experiences this past year has brought me. I am continually grateful for that opportunity, especially since it introduced me to The Center and the wonderful people that work here. The Center chose to participate in the program in order to be connected to and participate in all the exciting work that is being done in the City. I plan on continuing that work and mission with The Center outside of the fellowship in order to keep the Challenge Detroit spirit alive.

Clare Lilek is a Challenge Detroit Fellow / Client Service Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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Raymond James is not affiliated with Challenge Detroit or any of the co-operating organizations named. Challenge Detroit: A Fellowship Year in Retrospect

How to Make Grants from Donor-Advised Funds

Contributed by: Matthew E. Chope, CFP®

I talk to a lot of clients who have set up Donor-Advised Funds or family foundations and are confused. They’ve figured out how to put money in, but how to make grants isn’t always as clear. The IRS prohibits using these funds to satisfy a pledge. That doesn’t prohibit you from supporting organizations like churches, but it does mean you need to follow certain steps.

The first step is to talk to your attorney and your CPA. They can give you tax and legal advice about making a grant. Carla Hargett, the Vice President of Raymond James Trust, told me if you’re planning on giving to your church, for example, she believes the best way to handle the Donor-Advised Fund Grants is to start by discharging any pledge made in the past. Donor-Advised Funds cannot be used to satisfy a pledge. You can let your church know you intend to provide General Support for a certain amount of money and year(s) going forward. The amount can be close to an amount you’ve given in the past – that’s up to you. But any legally enforceable pledges must be cancelled first. This should stop the audit trail if the IRS ever decides to get into the particulars with a grantor. So make sure the grant requests from your Donor-Advised Fund should say something like "2016 General Support.”  

When pledge time comes around, I recommend that you write on the pledge card something like, "I intend to request a distribution of $XXXX.XX from my Donor-Advised Fund during the 20XX fiscal year." Your church or charitable organization will be familiar with this language and can use it for budget planning similar to a pledge.

We just want to make sure that Grantors of donor-advised funds are doing things as accurately as possible and if an IRS auditor someday digs into your grants, you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Matthew E. Chope, CFP ® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc. Matt has been quoted in various investment professional newspapers and magazines. He is active in the community and his profession and helps local corporations and nonprofits in the areas of strategic planning and money and business management decisions.

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The information contained in this blog does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Matt Chope and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

Rio Olympics: A Lesson in Commitment

Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP®

If you’re like me, you spent the majority of your nights this month tuning into the Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. I’m more of a football and hockey type of guy but I must admit, watching some of the best athletes in the entire world compete for their respective countries, even in sports I wouldn’t consider myself a die had fan in, was captivating. The level of competition was incredible and you could truly feel the passion each athlete had as they competed for gold. 

While watching the actual games and being engaged in the competition is very entertaining, what hit home the most to me was the level of commitment each athlete had, especially those who are dominant in their respective sport. Athletes like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, and Simone Biles are in a league of their own when it comes to training, execution, and their overall commitment to their goals. Training is rigorous and is often times 6 – 8 hours per day 5 – 6 days a week for nearly 4 years in preparation for a 2 week competition. Just think about that for a moment. That’s over 1,000 days of hard work, persistence, consistency and probably ten additional adjectives necessary to describe what it takes to be an elite Olympic athlete. 

As you hopefully already know, setting and committing to goals are at the core of what we help clients with here at The Center. We need to know what’s important to you and what you want to accomplish to help you with your own unique situation to ensure your financial plan is aligned with what’s important to you. Often times, some might perceive this as too “touchy feely” or you might ask yourself, “Why do they want to know this stuff? They’re financial planners, aren’t they just concerned about the numbers?” Simple answer – absolutely not. Committing to goals, whether they are for your family, career, personal life or financial well-being, are critical for your success, just as they are for Olympic athletes. 

As you start to think about the goals you might have, keep in mind what Michael Phelps had to say about them – “Goals should never be easy; they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.” If goals were simple, they wouldn’t be fulfilling. Personally, watching the Olympics re-energized me to better commit to my own goals. Do you have a clear vision of what your goals look like? If so, are they challenging? Commit to the things that bring real value to your life and work hard to make them a reality. Life is too short not to. As always, feel free to contact your financial planner to help prioritize and strategize when it comes to these goals. 

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs.

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3 Reasons Discretionary Investment Management could be Right for You

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®

We all have busy lives. Whether you are getting down to business or enjoyingyour retirement to the fullest who wants to worry about missing a call from their advisor because something in their portfolio needs to be changed? Perhaps cash needs to be raised to meet that monthly withdrawal to your checking account so you can keep paying your traveling expenses. Or money has to be deposited to your investment account, if you are still saving, and needs to be invested. Regardless of your situation, many investors find it difficult to make time to manage their investment portfolios. We argue this is far too important to be left for a moment when you happen to have some spare time. 

What is Discretionary Management?

It is the process of delegating day-to-day investment decisions to your financial planner. Establishing an Investment Policy Statement that identifies the guidelines you need your portfolio managed within is the first and arguably the most important step. Investment decisions are then made on your behalf within the scope of this statement. It is kind of like utilizing a target date strategy in your employer’s 401(k). You tell it how old you are and when you are going to retire and all of the asset allocation, rebalancing and buy/sell decisions are made for you.

3 reasons this can be a suitable option for investors:

1. Frees up your time to do what you love most. Time is the resource we all struggle to get our hands on. Need I say more?

2. Markets move quickly and sometimes portfolios must also to respond. Changes can happen in a timely fashion whether you are within reach on your cell phone or not.

3. May reduce the potential for poor investor behavior. Let those not emotionally charged by fluctuations in the market make decisions on your behalf.

If you have questions on whether or not this is right for you and your portfolio don’t hesitate to contact us.  We’d be happy to help!

Angela Palacios, CFP® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

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The information contained in this blog does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Angela Palacios and not necessarily those of Raymond James. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Millennials Matter: The Importance of a Budget

Contributed by: Melissa Parkins, CFP®

No one likes making a budget. It takes time to make, time to maintain, and it can provide some depressing information. All this considered, you still SHOULD make a budget! Actually, no matter your age or where you are in life, a budget is a critical piece to your financial plan. A financially successful future can depend on your actions today, and budgeting is an effective way to keep your actions in check.

Why budget:

A budget helps you best plan for your short term goals (like a vacation, or paying down student loans) and long term goals (like a home purchase, or a comfortable retirement). First you lay out your goals with specific amount and timeline, then you track your spending habits and monitor your progress, and before you know it, your dreams can become a reality! I know, easier said than done. But in all seriousness, a budget is one of the best ways to keep yourself accountable AND focused so that your goals can be met. It also forces you to realize your bad spending habits (the depressing part of any budget) and then work towards correcting them. First know what you earn and what you need to spend to live then determine how much you need to save to reach your goals. As you’ve heard many times before, don’t spend money that you don’t have! Especially if you already have unwanted debt (like student loans!). Even if you are currently comfortable with your income and spending each month, creating a budget is still helpful to identify unnecessary spending and redirect those funds to your priorities. I mean, do you really need to be spending $100 a month on lattes?! A budget will show you what little guilty pleasures actually add up to in the long run, and it may surprise you.

How to setup a budget:

Taking the time to start your budget is the hardest part.

• First, collect your paystubs and any other regular monthly income statements to determine the amount that comes in each month.

• Next, collect bank and credit card statements, and other monthly bills to figure out your fixed expenses, necessary expenses, and unnecessary spending.

• Compare multiple months of statements to determine on average how much you spend monthly.

• Break down your spending into categories (living expenses, household bills, debt payments, groceries, eating out, shopping, savings etc.).

• Analyze your spending categories to see which areas are your “bad habits” and you’d like to consciously make improvements.

• Review your goals and make sure you are appropriately saving for them.

Once you have done all this, you now have your bottom line, and it is just a matter of sticking to it. The way you go about maintaining and tracking your budget is a matter of personal opinion. Some prefer using an excel spreadsheet. Others find online tools such as Mint, Level Money, or You Need a Budget to be most helpful. There are also alternatives to the traditional budget like utilizing multiple checking/savings accounts at the bank to organize your spending and savings (opening different savings accounts and titling them for different goals like emergency fund, travel, etc. or having separate checking accounts for necessary spending and discretionary spending).

It doesn’t matter how you do it, you just need to find the way that works best for you. Creating and sticking to a budget involves discipline, and maybe some sacrifice at times, but it will break the bad habits and replace them with good spending and savings habits. At the end of the day, a budget can help you eliminate your debts and build your net worth quicker. If you have dreams of luxury purchases, traveling the world, paying down student loans quickly, or just having a happy retirement, you need a budget! It can help you reach your goals quicker and easier.

Melissa Parkins, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Melissa Parkins and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct.

No Such Thing as too much Security!

Contributed by: Raya Chope

Raymond James has rolled out a new feature for Investor Access called Enhanced Authentication. This is a new, free option that allows clients to add another layer of security to Investor Access accounts.

How Enhanced Authentication Works

If you have ever logged into your Investor Access account from a new, unrecognized device you may have been prompted to answer a few security questions. This new feature replaces security questions with a one-time text message or voice call that includes an authorization code. It’s not until the code is received and entered that you’re able to gain access to your Investor Access.

How to Get Started

To enable Enhanced Authentication, follow these simple steps:

• Log in to Investor Access from a trusted device

• Select the Account Services tab

• Select the Password & Security sub-tab

• Click the bubble at the bottom of the page to enable Enhanced Authentication

Once the feature is enabled, you will be prompted to choose either a mobile device or a landline from the phone numbers we have on file. If a mobile device is selected, you have the choice to receive the authentication code via text message or voice call. If a landline is selected, a voice call is the only option to receive the code. If you do not see your corresponding phone numbers or would like to add another one to our files, please contact the office.

If you’re new to Investor Access, get started by visiting our webpage and clicking on the Investor Access tab at the top.

Raya Chope is a Client Service Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®